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Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art is an ambitious festival which works with artists from the city, the wider region and leading international practitioners to produce high quality exhibitions, events and experiences for audiences.

The Future is not a mystical place which can only be occupied by science fiction or speculation, it is a space that we have direct control over, a space which our decisions, actions and proposals actively build.

The inaugural Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art is acutely aware of this, the festival takes The Future as a starting point and from there considers what this historic city might become and what role contemporary visual art might play in that transformation. This is a poignant moment for such considerations as the city has been shortlisted in the competition to become UK City of Culture 2021 and as the council commits to 10 years of cultural activity and growth through its new cultural strategy.

Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art is an ambitious festival taking place at multiple venues across the city centre including The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, FarGo Village, City Arcadia Gallery and other cultural, unused and public locations. Each of these venues will host ambitious exhibitions by contemporary artists from around the West Midlands, the UK and the rest of the world.

Major, international prize-winning artists and a selection of exciting emerging artists and recent graduates will provide Biennial visitors with an opportunity to see some of the best visual art from recent years through solo and group exhibitions and events across the city centre from the 6 – 22 of October.

The festival’s central exhibition will be housed in the historic Coventry Evening Telegraph Building, now know as The CET Building. After several years of standing empty, the building has recently been partially opened to the public on Saturday afternoons to celebrate its history and unique position in the city. The whole building will be converted into a large-scale gallery space which will house installations, paintings, photographs, moving image works and sculpture.

In addition to exhibitions there will be performances, parties and an educational programme including artists talks, workshops, guided tours and symposiums.

We are exceptionally grateful for the support of our partners in the city and region which has enabled us to make an ambitious, challenging and exciting new festival. The support of Arts Council England, Coventry City Council, New Art West Midlands, Coventry Artspace Partnerships and Coventry University has been particularly important.